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Take a visit to any Kiriyana store in Faisalabad, Multan or Rawalpindi and ask the shopkeeper why eggs are now more expensive compared to last month. Be in for a shrug and a "mehngai" comment. However, an invisible force is not responsible for the increase in the price of eggs in Pakistan. It's in constant motion based on very specific and identifiable inputs, and learning those inputs affects what you buy, how you pay for it, and how you think about something as simple as breakfast. This article is for the Pakistani household and small food buyers who are craving to know what they are getting into.

The Feed Bill Runs Everything

Eggs are a farm product, and most people consider the economics to be simple. You buy an egg, and a hen lays one. Between these two points is a series of costs that most retail buyers never see.

Hen feed is the highest single expense of any egg producer in Pakistan. Feed accounts for about 65-70% of the cost of producing a dozen eggs in a commercial layer operation. This means that when egg prices change, so do grain prices, and this typically happens within a couple of weeks.

The poultry industry in Pakistan is based on maize-based feed formulated in Pakistan. Almost all commercial layer feed rations for egg production are based on maize. If the domestic maize production isn't enough, as it has been in consecutive seasons since 2022, feed mills import maize or increase the price of maize available in the market. In both situations, the layer feed price in Pakistan has increased, affecting the farmer's budget and, subsequently, the consumer's budget.

A 50 kg bag of the regular layer feed in the central part of the province ranged from Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 2,400 in 2021. This bag was sold for Rs. in 2024. 3,000 to Rs. This varies by brand and location, and is around 3,500. That's a very significant increase in the single most important input: 40 to 50 per cent.

Currency Depreciation Made Things Worse

The Pakistani rupee depreciated by a handsome margin against the USD in 2022-24. This is important for egg prices, as many ingredients in layer feed are sourced abroad or priced against international markets.

Most commercial hen feed formulas use soybean meal as a protein backbone, and it is also imported. Vitamin and mineral premixes are virtually all imported, filling in the remaining nutrients of the feed. These inputs would increase in Pakistani currency even if the international price remains unchanged, as the rupee depreciates.

It's a reality of compounding. If the feed mill has to pay more in rupees to import soybean meal, that would be added to the bag price. The farmer who purchases that bag can't absorb it forever. The price of eggs in Pakistan, in some ways, reflects the exchange rate, which most buyers are unaware of when they pay for their eggs.

Where the Organic Egg Fits Into This Picture

The organic egg prices are not just due to marketing; they are also higher at the higher end of the egg market. Organic and free-range egg producers are also under pressure from feed costs, as are conventional egg producers, though they have less control over them.

A conventional, cage-based farm can boost production efficiency through stocking density, feed additives, and lighting programmes. Those shortcuts are not allowed without compromising the key characteristic of an organic egg producer. The flock is fed an additive-free and more costly feed. More room is required for the birds. Production is less per hen.

This means organic eggs have a higher structural cost per unit, which is not easily compressed even when input costs fall. Organic or desi eggs were being sold in grocery stores in the city of Lahore at Rs. 500 to Rs. The price of 800 per dozen was maintained throughout most of 2024, a rate lower than Rs. 300 to Rs. For commercial table eggs, 380 was used. That will probably remain the case as the supply side will be limited, the demand side continues to expand, and new organic farms will have to grow.

Seasonal Patterns That Most Buyers Ignore

The price of eggs in Pakistan also follows a seasonal trend, somewhat predictable yet not discussed in layman's terms.

Egg production decreases in the summer months, especially May through August. When stressed by heat, hens will lay less frequently and sometimes produce thinner-shelled, lower-weight eggs. The larger the flock, the more expensive ventilation and water are to maintain low mortality. Production costs rise, and output falls, leading to reduced margins and higher prices.

In winter, production improves, and prices usually reduce, though not necessarily significantly. The Ramadan period is an additional factor. During the last few weeks before Ramadan, demand surges and during this time, retail prices for various commodities tend to go up, sometimes by Rs. 30 to Rs. In that window, I was 60 per dozen, and now I'm back down to 60 per dozen.

Knowing this cycle also helps buyers with the timing of larger purchases and with avoiding overpaying during predictable demand surges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the egg price in Pakistan continually increasing?

The main factor is feed cost. The cost of layer feed in Pakistan has increased by 40–50% since 2021 due to limited maize availability, the depreciation of the rupee, and higher import costs for protein and premix ingredients. Feed costs account for 65 to 70% of production costs, and any fluctuations in feed prices are reflected at the retail level within just a few weeks.

What is the reason that the organic egg is nearly twice the price of the commercial egg?

That's because the organic egg production model is intentionally less efficient, which results in a higher price. Organic hens are fed higher-quality, additive-free hen feed that costs more, raised at lower stocking densities than commercial caged hens and have fewer eggs per hen. Those additional costs for the dozen are also passed on directly to the consumer.

Are the prices of layer feed different in different areas of Pakistan?

Yes, noticeably. The feed mills are concentrated in Punjab around the cities of Lahore, Sheikhupura and Gujranwala. In KP, Balochistan or in Sindh, farmers are often asked to pay Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 more per bag due to transport costs. Variation in layer feed price in Pakistan also contributes to differences in egg prices across provinces.

Do egg prices go down at any particular time of the year?

Typically, the winter months (when there is no heat stress and hens produce more consistently) offer lower prices. October through January is a more consistent time of year for more stable pricing. The price of eggs in Pakistan is typically sold at higher prices during Ramadan and summer, compared to other seasons.

What are the methods by which a home can cut down on the amount of eggs that are being used without compromising on the quality?

The retail markup can be avoided by purchasing directly from a local farm or trusted weekly market vendor. Organic eggs can be bought at lower prices through farm delivery groups or organic egg cooperatives, which offer discounted rates to members. 80 to Rs. 150 per dozen. Whether eggs are purchased as Live or Chilled, it is also likely that buying by the tray will reduce the per-egg cost.

A Clearer Way to Think About It

The price of eggs in Pakistan is not just arbitrary. It is a combination of maize availability, the stability of the rupee, import costs, seasonality of production, and farm-level choices regarding the quality of hen feed. Once one of those inputs changes, the price changes too.

For consumers considering commercial or organic egg, the information on these levers equips you to be a more knowledgeable consumer. You're not only responding to the price the shopkeeper is asking! You are reading a market with its own logic, and that logic, once you understand, is pretty consistent.